Means for conditioning fruits and vegetables



Oct. 12 1937. w. E. SIMONSON ET AL 9 5 MEANS FOR CONDITIONING FRUITS AND. VEGETABLES Filed April 50, 1934 4 Sheets$heet 1 gwwntou War/Ker Afi'monron Lon J7 dlz fory (1m 1 ac 1.;-

Oct. 12, 1937. w. E. SIMONSON ET AL. 2,095,454

MEANS FOR CONDITIONING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Filed April 30, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 12, 1937.

w. E. SIMONSON El AL MEANS FOR CONDITIONING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Filed April 30, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 MA M 3m Z ,ON/A \\v \\\n Oct. 12, 1937.

W. E. SIMONSON ET AL MEANS FOR CONDITIONING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Filed April 30, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 220 V. AC.

. r j?! 9 3m l l a/ker zifl'monJan Lon rfgory Patented Oct. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS ron CONDITIONING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Application April 30, 1934, Serial No. 723,138

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in means for conditioning fruits and vegetables.

One object of the invention is to provide means 5 for generating a gas suitable for the conditioning of fruits and vegetables which is an improvement of the means shown in the pending application of Walker E. Simonson, Serial No. 723,139, filed April 30, 1934.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved machine having a gas generator wherein the gas production is constant.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine for conditioning fruits and vegetables having a gas generator therein, and also having means for automatically maintaining the generator temperature within certain limits, whereby the proper pyrosynthesis of the gas is obtained.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved generator for generating a gas suitable for conditioning fruits and vegetables from hydrocarbon mixtures or liquids, .said liquids being stored above the generator whereby it will flow by gravity and means for holding a constant pressure head above the generator, whereby said generators gas production is constant.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with 30 other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and

35 wherein:

Figure l is a front elevation of a conditioning machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same,

40 having the front wall removed,

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a plan view,

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a detail of the electrical furnace,

Figure 7 is a. detail of the liquid gas valve control,

Figure 8 is a detail of the level chamber and 50 gascolator, and

Figure 9 is a diagrammatical view, showing the steam and gas system, together with a wiring diagram of the machine.

In the drawings the numeral l designates an 56 upright case or cabinet which is preferably square in cross section, although this is not essential. The cabinet has its top open and a suitable grille ll extends thereacross. The front wall of the cabinet terminates short of the lower end of said cabinet, thereby providing an opening I2 at the lower end of said front wall. It is pointed out that the opening extends entirely across the width of the cabinet. The cabinet isprovided with a false bottom I3 which is curved forwardly and downwardly and terminates at the lower end 10 of the opening I2, which is covered by a suitable grating I4. It is obvious that air entering the cabinet through the open top and passing downwardly through said cabinet is directed outwardly through the opening I2-by the curved bottom I3.

For controlling the temperature of the enclosure or room wherein the cabinet Ill may be, I provide a suitable heating unit within the cabinet. The unit includes a hanger bar I5 which is positioned within said cabinet and extends transversely thereof (Figures 2, 3 and 5). A plurality of metal heating strips I6 have their upper ends secured to the hanger bar I5. By observing Figure 2, it will be seen that the bars meet at their .25 upper ends, their lower ends being inclined outwardly toward the sides of the cabinet. The lower ends of said strips are secured to transverse supporting bars I1, similar to the hanger bar I5. It will be seen that due to the inclination and .30 position of the heating strips, air passing through the cabinet must pass through and around the strips. The strips are connected to each other by bus bars I8 and I9 (Figures 5 and 9). The bars are electrically connected to each other by a short wire I8. The bar I8 has a wire IM leading therefrom and this wire has its other end connected to a thermostat 20 which is mounted on the front wall of the cabinet near the upper end thereof. The thermostat has connection through a wire 20a with a suitable source of electrical current. I have shown the wire 2011 connected to a 220 volt three wire A. C. single phase source of supply. The electrical current to the thermostat is completed through a wire Illa which connects to one end of the bus bar l9. A suitable switch 2| which is mounted in a switch panel 22 on the front of the cabinet is connected in the wire I9a and controls the current passing through the heating strips. f It is clear that when the switch 2| is closed the current will pass through the wire I9a to the bus bar l9, through said bar to the bar l8, and also through the strips I6, then through the wire I8a, the thermostat 20, and wire 20a to complete the, 55

circuit. Thus so long as the switch is closed the strips are energized and serve to heat the air passing through the cabinet. The thermostat is set at a desired temperature and as soon as the temperature reaches this point, the circuit is broken by the thermostat cutting off the current to the strips. When the temperature falls below the desired point, the thermostat again closes the circuit and it is seen that the temperature of the air is automatically and at all times held constant.

For circulating the air in the enclosure wherein the cabinet is positioned, an electric fan 23 is mounted in a suitable bracket 24 in the top of the cabinet. The fan is connected in series with a triple pole double throw switch 25 which is mounted in the switch panel 22 on the front of the cabinet. The switch 25 is connected by wires 250, with a suitable source of supply which, as shown in the drawings, is a 220 volt three wire A. C. single phase. The fan carries a propeller type blade and due to the electrical hookup is reversible. When operated in a forward direction, it pulls the air in through the top and forces it downwardly through the cabinet l0 and then outwardly through the opening l2 in the front wall of said cabinet. When the fan is reversed, air is drawn upwardly through the cabinet and forced out the top of the same. It is pointed out that the fan provides a constant circulation of the air which the heating unit hereinbefore described holds at a constant temperature.

To properly condition fruits and vegetables, it has been found necessary to subject them to a gas which hastens their coloring and ripening. Different kinds of gas have been used with different results obtained. For generating a suitable gas for the conditioning of fruit and vegetables, we provide a gas generator or furnace 26 (Figures 3 and 6) which is mounted within the cabinet l0 between the metal heating strips IS. The generator includes a horizontal pipe 21 which extends entirely across the cabinet ID and has its ends supported in the front and rear walls of the cabinet. The central portion of the pipe has an electrical coil 28 wound therearound and an insulating chamber 29 is provided around the coil and pipe. The chamber is formed by an enlarged cylindrical body 30 secured to circular end plates 3| which are supported on the pipe 21. Suitable insulating materia1-3 I such as asbestos, is placed in the chamber and it is obvious that the heat from the coil 28 is utilized to heat the pipe 21.

The gas for conditioning the fruits and vegetables is produced by the pyrosynthesis of a hydrocarbon liquid in the electric generator or furnace 26. Pentane has been found to give very satisfactory results, but it is pointed out that other hydrocarbon liquids and hydrocarbon mixtures may be employed. Pentane is readily obtainable, easily handled and produces but little degenerate carbon during pyrosynthesis, so for purposes of description this hydrocarbon liquid will be used throughout the specification, although the invention is not to be limited to pentane.

The pentane is stored in a suitable tank or container 34 which is mounted on the rear of the cabinet ID at the upper end thereof (Figures 3 and 9). The pentane flows by gravity into an outlet pipe 33' provided at the underside of the tank. A suitable filter screen 35' covers the outlet opening of the tank. The other end of the outlet pipe 33 connects to a level chamber 32. (Figure 8.) The chamber has a float 32 therein.

The float serves to open and close the outlet opening 33 in the lower end of the. chamber 32. The opening 33 has a short pipe 34 leading to the interior of a gascolator 35. The gascolator operates similarly to the usual automobile gascolator and has a pipe 36 connecting said gascolator with the rear end of the pipe 21 of the generator 26. A shut-off valve 31, which is controlled by a lever 38 at one side of the cabinet I0, is connected in the pipe 36 and it is obvious that this valve controls the entrance of pentane to thefgenerator. A check valve 39, which permits the pentane to pass downwardly but prevents its upward passage is connected in the pipe 35 below the control valve 31.

The pentane flows from the tank 34' into the level chamber 32. When sufiicient liquid has entered this chamber the float 32 is raised and the pentane flows into the gascolator, from where it enters the pipe 36. With the valve 31 open, the pentane will enter the horizontal pipe 21 of the generator, where it will be heated. This heating of the pentane will form the gas used in the conditioning. The gas will escape from the pipe 21 through a vertical line 40 depending from the forward portion of said pipe (Figures 2 and 3). The line 40 is connected to the lower end of a gas purifier and cooler 4|. This cooler and purifier which may be of any approved ordinary construction has a constant water level maintained therein in the usual way and the gas passes upwardly therethrough, where it is cooled and purified of any carbon or heavy tars. The gas is then discharged through a gas outlet pipe 42 which has its end projecting through the opening I2 in the front wall of the cabinet, and said gas mixes with the air being blown through the cabinet by the fan 23.

If the control valve 31 is adjusted to a definite position with a constant pressure head thereabove, the rate of flow of pentane will be constant and therefore the gas production will be constant. A constant head is obtained above said valve by the provision of the level chamber 32 and also by the provision of a vapor equalization line 44. The vapor equalization line includes pipes 45 and 46', which lead from the top of the level chamber 32 and the pipe 36 between the valves 31 and 39, to the top of the tank 34. Thus it is obvious that when the valve 31 is opened and the apparatus is in operation the line 44 serves to equalize the back pressure at the level chamber, tank and pipe 36. This back pressure is further held constant by the constant water level in the gas cooler and purifier 4|. That is to say, by the maintenance of a predetermined body of water constantly in the cooler and purifier 4| the flow of the gas is controlled and maintained with substantial regularity and without appreciable fluctuation, whereby, with the adjustment of the pentane supply control valve 31, as hereinabove described, a definite and steady generation of gas is accomplished and the flow of the pentane from the supply tank 34 to the level chamber 32 and from said chamber 32, through the gascolater 35, to the check valve 39 is constant, because, by the provision of the pressure equalization line 44, 45 and 46. Said equalization line is manifestly effective whether or not there is suflicient back pressure created in the gas generator pipe 21 to hold the check valve 39 closed, and such condition may momentarily occur from time to time during the operation of the apparatus. Even should any gas pressure back up through 2,095,454 the check valve 39, the pressure equalizing effect tane in said chamber. .Thus it is possible to setv the liquid avalvelever 385 with a stop 38' and after. calibration zascertainthe amount of gasproduced per. unitof: time.=. Since the cubic .con-

tent oftheiroom-may. be measured'and the rate of. gasproduced is known. it'is possible-to determine the length ;of time the generator must operate .to givethe desired gas. concentration for a particularfniityor. vegetable.

I v T0 obtain the.proper :pyrosynthesis of the gas, .it'isnecessary that the generator or furnace temperature be maintained between definite limits.- i,l?'.or automatically controlling the tem.- perature of the. generator, we provide a generator thermostat. .Thisthermostat'includes a horizontal iron tube 41 "which is-suitably supported in andsecured to'a bearing "which is screwed into the. rearend'of the pipe 21 of the generator: 26. By observing Figure .6, it will be seen that the ,tube.:41.extendsaiongitudinally within the pipe 21.1,..Aucopperrod .49 ispositioned within the. tube andhaspits; inner end rigidly secured to the. inner "endof; the: tube. 1 The other end of'the rodtextends outwardly'from-the outer end of the tubeand is alined' to engage an electrical contact58 carried by suitable *supports 5| ex tending from thebearing 48.. When the tube 41 and rod 49 are heated, the heat will cause expansionnof thesame; The rod, being of copper will expand mcre;rapidly-than the tube which is of. iron,-and theengagement of the copper rod with thecontact: 58 willwclose an electrical circuit,as will be hereinafter explained.

The electrical-hookup of'the coil 28 of the generator. and; itswcontrolling thermostat clearly shown in Figure 9.: a Oneendof the coil 2811s connected bya leadlwire 28a through the thermostat. 28to one side of the 220volt three wire: singlephase-A. 0.. source; A- switch 52 is .,,.connected innthexwire 28arand this switch is mounted .in the panel 22 on the front wall of the'cabinet l8. Thenoth'er end .of the coil is connected'by alead wire 28b. to. the source of supply. A relay operated switch-53 is connected .i .in this wire. Thusgit is obvious that the current passing through the coil 28 is controlled by the manually'operated switch 52 and the relay operated switch 53, and the thermostat 20.

The contact 58 of the generator thermostat 46 has a wire 58a leading therefrom to one side of a transformer 54. The transformer is supplied with electricity from the 220 volt three wire single phase A. C. source. The opposite side of the transformer has a wire 54a leading therefrom and the other end of this wire is connected to the bearing 48 in which the tube 41 and copper rod 49 are secured. A relay 55 which operates the switch 53 when energized is connected in the wire 54a. It will be seen that when the coil 28 of the generator heats the copper rod 49, said rod will expand to engage the contact 58. This will close the circuit to the transformer 54 through the wires 58a and 54a to energize the relay 55. When the relay is, energized, the switch 53 will be operated to break the circuit to the heating coil 28, thereby shutting off the heat in the generator. A suitable pilot lamp 55 is connected by wires 55a and 56b to the wire 54a, and said pilot lamp is lighted each the check valve 39. A- cut-off tioned in the pipe 58 and controls the entrance of the water into the lead pipe36. The outer time the relay is operated, thereby showing when the generator has reached its maximum heat. When the rod 49 cools sufliciently'to break the circuitthrough the transformer, the-relay 55 is de-energiz'ed and the: switch 53 ,returns to its normal position," again closing the circuit to permit the coil 28 to heat." Thus, the heat of the generator is automatically controlled. or course, by manually operating the switch 52, the control of the 'generatorby the operator is had.

Some fruits andvegetables require that sumcient humidity of the air in the enclosure or room be maintained. If the humidity is'too low, the material under treatment willshow a distinct loss in weight and the skins will become shrivelled' and' broken. To control the humidity of the air in the room, we mix steam with the air'whichis passing through the cabinet I 8. In providing steam, we utilize the generator 26. i

A water tank 55' is positioned on the rear wall of the cabinet l0. adjacent the pentane tank 34'. If desired, and as we have shown in the drawings; the two tanks may be a single tank with a partition therein. The water tank has a ver-' ticaloutlet pipe 51 leading downwardly therefrom. This pipe is provided'witlia water orifice 51' which controls the flow of the water from the tank 56' through'the pipe. A suitable check valve '58 is also connected-inthis pipe. The lower end of the vertical pipe 51 connects to a horizontal pipe 58 which has its inner end connected to: the pentane lead "pipe 38,.below valve 59 is posiend of the pipe 58 has a steam outlet pipe 68 and has its upper en'd'open.

The water draining downwardly by gravity from the tank 55', fiowsdownwa'rdly through the pipe 51 into the pipe 58 and then into the pentane secured thereto. This pipe 68 extends vertically lead pipe 35. It is'pointed out that the how ofpentane is cut ofi at this time, the valve 31 being closed. The water then flows into the generator 26 where it is heated and steam formed. The steam then rises through the pipe 38, into the pipe i, and finally out into the atmosphere through the pipe 68. The steam cannot go upwardly in the pipe into the pentane tank or upwardly in the pipe 51, being prevented by the check valves 39 and58', respectively. The water within :the generator which is not converted into steam will drain'downwardly from the generator into the gas purifier and cooler 4|, thereby maintaining a constant supply of water in said cooler and purifier. It is pointed out that the generator is utilized to generate both steam and gas, but it can handle only one at a time.

In operation the fruit or vegetable to be conditioned or treated is placed in an air-tight room or enclosure. The cabinet I0 is set within the room. and the fan 23 is turned on to draw air in through the top of the cabinet and force it through and around the metal heating strips l5 and out of theopening l2 at the lower front wall of said cabinet. This sets up a circulation of air within the room. The thermostat 28 is then set at the desired temperature and the switch 2| is turned to its on position. This closes the electrical circuit to the heating strips l6 and the room is then heated to the desired temperature. During this time the fan is operat-- ing to circulate the hot air.

If it is desirable, depending on the particular fruit or vegetable, to raise thehumidity of the air in the room, the switch II which controls the generator coil 28 is closed. The water control valve II, is then opened and water flows into the generator 26. The steam formed therein escapes from the upper end of the pipe I and the emitting steam is drawn through the cabinet by the draft of air at the top of the machine, and is mixed with the air and discharged into the room. The water control valve 59 is leit open until the desired saturation is reached, which may be ascertained by a hygrometer (not shown) and the valve is then closed.

To release the gas into the room, it is only necessary to open the control valve 38 in the pipe I, the switch 52 to the generator coil being closed. The pentane will enter the generator and be heated. The gas thus formed wilibe discharged through the gas outlet pipe" into the room. The length of time that the gas is being discharged'depends entirely on the particular fruit or vegetable which is being treated. For instance, bananas are treated under diiferent conditions than celery or citrus fruits. Each fruit or vegetable, however, must have a certain constant temperature and humidity and must be subjected to a certain gas concentration to be properly treated and conditioned.

The device herein described has a positive control of these conditions, as well as a means for circulating the air and gas within the room. After a particular fruit or vegetable has been treated,

the fan 23 can be reversed and a duct (not shown) placed over the upper end 01! the cabinet to draw the gas from the room. Heretofore it has been the practice to release gas into the room from pressure containers which are entirely separate from the heating means. The generator 26 is an important feature of the invention in that it is possible to get the desired and necessary gas concentration. We have described pentane as used but it is again-brought out that any hydrocarbon liquid or mixture, such as hexane, can be used if the proper conditions for their pyrosynthesis are maintained.

The description which has been given recites more or less detail of a particular embodiment oi the invention, which is set forth as new and useful; however, we desire it understood that the invention is not limited to such exact details of construction, because it is manifest that changes and modifications may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing fro the spirit of the invention.

What we claim-and desireto secure by Letters Patent, lsz' 1. In a self-contained apparatus for conditioning fruits and vegetables located within an enclosure, the combination oi a portable cabinet having an air passage therethrough, electrical heating means within the passage for heating the air passing therethrough, an electrically operated steam and gas generator within said air passage and in proximity to the heating means thereof, said generator comprising a casing having insulating material therein and a tubular central generating member surrounded by an electricalheating coil, means for manually and automatically controlling the operation of said heater and generator, including a thermostat exposed to the atmosphere externally oi the cabinet, a water container on said cabinet, a separate gas producing liquid container on said cabinet, and manually regulatable means for supplying the water or gas-producing liquid separately to said central generating member of the generator, and means for delivering the-generated steam or gas to the air stream leaving the passageway in said cabinet.

2. In an apparatus for conditioning fruits and vegetables, as herein described, a portable .cabinet having an air passage therethrough, an electrical heating element within the cabinet for heating the air passing through said passage, and an electrically heated steam and gas generator in said cabinet comprising, a cylindrical casing located within the air passage, a central tubular member within said cylindrical casing, an elec-- trical heating coil surrounding said tubular member within said cylindrical casing, separate sources of supply of water and gas producing liquid to said generator, manually operable means for efiecting the supply of water or gas producing liquid separately and selectively to said generator, at will, means for delivering the product generated in said generator to the air stream leaving said air passage of the cabinet, and means ior automatically controlling the temperature of said heating element and said generator including a thermostat exposed to the atmosphere externally of the cabinet and additional control means for the generator including a relay operated switch in the generator circuit and a thermal element in the generator for actuating the switch operating relay to open the circuit.

WALKER E. SIMONSON. LON S. GREGORY. 

